Box-toe blank



NOV. 12, J Q F E 1,735,383

BOX TOE BLANK Filed Feb. 4, 1937 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH C. FEAGLEY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ARMSTRONG COB-K COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BOX-TOE BLANK Application filed February 4, 1927. Serial No. 165,846.

This invention relates to box toeblanks, and more especially to soft box toe blanks.

During the manufacture of a shoe, the box toe is subject to very severe stretching and pulling. It is placed under the leather which forms the toe proper of the shoe, and it is necessary for a satisfactory product, that the box toe be capable of a considerable amount of stretch in any direction.

Box toes have been made of various materials, but a number of them have been unsatisfactory because they have not possessed the ability to stretch the desired amount in various directions. I provide a box toe made ofa fibrous backing having a coating thereon, and capable of substantially equal amounts of stretch in all directions. I preferably employ a, fabric whose warp threads per unit of width are capable of substantially the same amount of stretch as are the filler threads per unit of width. This may be substantially accomplished by employing a fabric whose warp and filler threads are of substantially the same weight, twist and count.

It is desirable that a relatively thin fabric be used. Coarse strand materials, such as burlap, are unsatisfactory because there is a definite limitation upon the total thickness of a box toe. If a heavy fabric, such as burlap, is used, only a thin composition can 'be applied. This thin composition does not have sufiicient strength and peelsor rubs away from the heavy fabric when the shoe upper is being wiped in around the fore part of the shoe. The wiping in operation is a very severe one. The toe cap, lining and box toe materials are worked to a smooth finish around the edge of the last, a pair of curved metal jaws being forced repeatedly across the edge of the last until all of the materials are smoothed down.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the present preferred embodiment of 'my invention:

Figure 1 is a View of a box toe from th fabric side; 4 Figure is a view from the coating side;

Figure 3 is a perspective view partly broken awiy showing the skived edge of the box toe; an

Figure 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view, illustrating the fabric employed for the backing.

In making up my improved box toe, I employ a fabric whose warpand filler threads are substantially the same weight and count. In ordinary woven fabrics, the warp threads are of a much harder and finer twist than are the filler threads.

I prefer to use relatively soft twist threads of the character frequently employed for'filler threads in both the warp and filler of the fabric. Both the warp and filler yarns are what are known as 8', and have about eight or nine twists to the inch, which is somewhat less than the standard twist. A cotton fabric made to a count of 32 warp and 32 filler threads per inch and weighing approximately 6 ounches per square yard has been found satisfactory. Ordinarily, it is not desirable to use a cloth much heavier than this, because .a heavier cloth requires a thinner coating in order to maintain the box to within the commercial limits of thickness.

The fabric is coated with a composition which preferably includes cork as one of its elements. The coating should be. such that a soft and non-breakable box toe results. A toe of this character will withstand the operations involved in such manufacture and will be satisfactory in use. It is somewhat moisture absorbent, and therefore, not hot and uncomfortable.

Satisfactory mixes for the coating are as follows:

2 lbs. crude rubber (smoked sheets) I 15 lbs. reclaimed rubber (No. 1 tube reclaimer) 4 lbs. ozs. 2 lbs. 5 lbs. 5 40 lbs. 4 ozs,

hard hydrocarbon (mineral rubber) sulphur zinc oxide earthy filler (china clay) ground cork antioxidant B oxidized oil and resin cement properly and in substantially equal amounts in any direction.

' The fabric is illustrated in Figure 4 as being made of filler threads f and warp threads at of substantially the same weight and twist, and substantially the same count.

The composition coating 3 extends over the entire box toe, but is skived all around, as indicated at 4 in Figures 2 and 3. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the composition coating is relatively thick, as compared with the fabric. This insures that it will not peel or rub away during the wiping in operation.

My box toe blanks are softer and therefore much more comfortable than the hard box toe blanks commonly made of leather or fibre or stiffened felt. The resilient character of the cork mix makes the box toe non-wrinkling, as contrasted with the soft upper leather box toes which will wrinkle. Moreover, the tensile structural strength of my box toe is not affected by water or perspiration. The composition herein disclosed is further described and claimed in my copending application for shoe counters, Serial No. 165,845, filed February 4, 1927.

I have illustrated a preferred form of the invention, but it will be understood that-it is not limited thereto, asit may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a soft box toe blank made of extensible fabric Whose warp threads per unit of width are capable the same weight, twist and count, the fabric box toe blank made of stretchable fabric whose warp and filler threads extend at an angle of substantially 45 to the longitudinal axis of the toe blank, and a coating on the fabric.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y I JOSEPH C. FEAGLEY.

of substantially the same amount of stretch as are the filler threads per unit of width, the fabric having a coating thereon, the threads of the fabric running diagonally to the box toe.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a soft 

